Well, here we go again. I just ordered some Silkie eggs and have got the 'bator warming up. I've had really poor hatch rates this spring on the 2 batches I've done so far. 1 chicks and 1 Guineas. Last year when I started this I was hitting about 80% right off and thought "Heck, this isn't so hard". Ha, ha, ha. Blind, dumb luck (emphesis on dumb).

A friend gave me the incubator and I didn't have instructions or experience. Just read some stuff on the web and tossed the eggs in their. Didn't do any of the things recommended for successful hatches. This spring I wanted to do some EXPENSIVE eggs and read up all winter on doing it right, so I didn't blow my $$$ thru negligence. Hmmmmmmmmm, maybe ignorance truly is bliss? We'll see how it goes this time. The eggs were cheap anyway this time and Silkies are supposed to be good Broody hens, so maybe I'll get lucky and solve a couple of problems at once.

Hope all of you are well and things have returned to normal now.

-- John in S. IN (jdoofus@hotmail.com), May 07, 2002

Answers

John wish you were closier to borrow some of my bantam hens-----as ALL want to sit----------plus I have babies everywhere--- & hens sitting & hens I'm trying to keep from sitting-----

you could borrow a couple of hens----for your eggs----but best wishes!!

-- Sonda in Ks. (sgbruce@birch.net), May 07, 2002.

I've never gotten a good hatch out of my incubator. So if you figure out some secrets, let us know;) I did get a good hatch off a broody hen about a month ago.

-- mary (marylgarcia@aol.com), May 07, 2002.

Sonda, I may be coming to Kansas in the near future to see my brother. I'd take you up on that offer but I don't know when I may be able to bring em back! My wife bought a couple little bantys and what looks like a cochin hen earlier this spring at the feed store. Maybe they'll get w/ the program as time goes on.

Mary, I get the feeling that you just have to keep practicing and eliminate the mistakes as you go. Hens would be a darn sight easier tho. I've thought about building a simple small incubator from scratch. I think it'd be easier to regulate the humidity and such if I had more control- as in adjustable vents for air flow. The incubator is a fun little device. Even w/ high priced eggs, it's cheap entertainment.

-- John in S. IN (jdoofus@hotmail.com), May 07, 2002.

John----if your brother would live close enought to me--- & you would want a couple of hens & some fertile eggs to set & my hens are still in the mood to sit--I would give you a couple of hens & enough bantam eggs or fawn runner duck eggs to hatch----

I don't tell exactly where I live in Kansas over the net but if you are serious---e-mail me---sonda P.S. please put something in the subject title so I'll open your e- mail---cause if I don't know who you are I delete all e-mails!!!

-- Sonda in Ks. (sgbruce@birch.net), May 08, 2002.